Adult Blog

If you saw Elisabeth's wonderful displays in June, you know that Hamden Public Library has lots of books about grilling, barbeque, and ice cream, but did you know that the month of July will be both National Grilling Month and National Ice Cream Month?

First proclaimed by President Ronald Regan in 1984, National Ice Cream Month (and the third Sunday of July, National Ice Cream Day) was proclaimed in order to recognize "ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by a full 90 percent of the nation's population. In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with 'appropriate ceremonies and activities'"(IDFA). Check out our Pinterest to view some ice cream books in our collections, and some links to online resources for how to make ice cream at home!

"Connecticut's Historic Gardens was started in 2002 by a small group of historic sites with gardens that pooled resources to participate in the annual Connecticut Flower and Garden Show held in Hartford, Connecticut in February." There are fourteen members of Connecticut Historic Gardens.

"The creation of gardens was among the first achievements of early civilizations, and garden design was already highly developed in antiquity. Pictures of gardens are a reflection of the social, historical, and aesthetic context in which gardens were conceived. The focus of this captivating book is not the gardens themselves or the different concepts of the garden, but rather the representation of gardens in paintings. The author examines why artists paint gardens by covering the varied and lively 2,000-year history of the garden picture using 180 masterpieces of gardens as examples. The text begins with a look at ancient Rome, when paintings of gardens, as found in villas in Pompeii, were already valued as works of art. The wide-ranging coverage also includes pictures of charming medieval gardens in books of hours; Botticelli's masterwork La Primavera, set in a grove of orange trees; views of well-known historic gardens, such as those at Versailles; painter's gardens, as for example, Monet's Giverny; and modern gardens depicted by Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, and David Hockney, among others. For collectors of art history books and garden books, this lovely volume should appeal to a broad audience."

A book for gardeners and art lovers everywhere: a selection of Vincent van Gogh's garden and flower paintings and drawings. Presents Van Goghs lifelong love affair with the garden. This title illustrates a range of works, from iconic oils such as Irises to exquisite etchings and intimate sketches."

The New Britain Museum of American Art has a new exhibition on: "The Brilliance of Louis Comfort Tiffany: Painter and Craftsman", May 24–Sept. 29, 2013. If you are a Hamden resident with a valid Hamden Library card, you can check out a museum pass at the info desk at Miller Library which offers free admission for four. On display are 100 paintings by Louis Comfort Tiffany, large stained glass windows, metal and glass objects, furniture and other decorative objects. Check out our display of books about Louis Comfort Tiffany, Art Nouveau, and stained glass windows. For more information about museum passes click here.

National Institute of Mental HealthYou can access our database, the HEALTH AND WELLNESS RESOURCE CENTER. From home, you need to enter your Hamden Library card number. This database offers full-text accessto various reference resources, like the "The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine", and "The Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Health" with online updates from 2012. You can also access full-text articles from medical journals, pamphlets, newspapers, and find information on various diseases and conditions.

Come to Miller Library during April and check out our large glass display case in front of the main staircase. Mr. Dave Johnson, lifelong Hamden resident and retired Hamden firefighter has put together a display about the Web Shop, a large brick building constructed in 1876 which was razed in 1940to make way for the Wilbur Cross Parkway. He used historic images from the Hamden Historical Society for his fascinating display.

Mr. Johnson will give a visual presentation titled "Hamden Firefighters: History, Evolution & Events", on Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the Senior Center Hall at the Miller Cultural Complex, 2901 Dixwell Ave. in Hamden, CT. Enter at the rear entrance. This lecture is sponsored by the Hamden Historical Society. It is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.